Tuesday passed, and then it was Wednesday. I got a call from Mr. Johnson.
«The papers have been served. They should arrive tomorrow.»
Tomorrow, Michael would receive the court documents. Michael, who had been living with Jessica, oblivious to everything, was about to get the shock of his life.
It was Thursday afternoon. My phone rang. It was Michael. His voice was frantic.
«Honey, where are you? Are you home?» he asked.
I told him I was.
«I’m coming right now. Don’t go anywhere.»
The line went dead. His voice was shaking. He had received the papers. He finally knew. Thirty minutes later, the front door burst open. Michael stormed in, his face pale. He was holding a court-stamped envelope.
«What the hell is this?» he shouted.
He was normally a quiet person, but his voice was loud with panic.
I answered calmly. «It’s exactly what it looks like. A divorce petition.»
Michael looked at me in disbelief. He unfolded the documents and began to read, his face hardened.
«I also filed a suit against Jessica Vance,» I added.
Michael’s head snapped up, his eyes wide.
«How could you?» He couldn’t finish the sentence. He couldn’t comprehend how I knew about Jessica, how I had gathered evidence.
«I’ve known for three months. I’ve known who you were meeting. Where you were living. I know everything.»
Michael collapsed onto the sofa, the papers falling from his hand.
«I have photos. And videos. GPS records, financial statements, security footage. I have it all,» I said, listing each item.
Michael’s face grew paler with every word. He knew he couldn’t deny it.
«Jessica’s husband knows too. He probably filed his own lawsuit today.»
Michael shot up and grabbed his phone, trying to call Jessica. She didn’t answer. He tried several more times, but the calls went straight to voicemail.
«She’s not picking up.»
«She’s probably confronting her husband right now,» I said.
James would have met with Jessica today, lawsuit in hand. Michael sat back down, clutching his head. He was processing the reality that he was completely caught, that all the evidence had been secured.
«Since when did you know?» he asked, his voice a whisper, drained of energy.
«Three months ago. Since the day I saw you at that cafe near Grand Central.»
Michael seemed to remember that day. His expression tightened.
«I started documenting everything from then on. Your lies, your meetings, the condo lease, the Miami trip, the cohabitation. Everything.»
Michael said nothing. There was nothing he could say.
«Why?» I asked.
I truly wanted to know. Why a man I had spent seven years with would choose someone else? After a long silence, he finally spoke.
«I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.»
That was all. An apology, but no reason. He couldn’t give one because there was no excuse. His phone rang. It was Jessica. Michael answered.
«Yeah, it’s me. You got them too? Yeah, I just… What do we do?»
His voice was panicked. Jessica had been served as well. They were both in the same situation. He hung up, looking lost.
«She got sued for divorce too.»
Her husband knew everything. James had confronted Jessica at the same time. The plan had worked perfectly. That night, Michael didn’t go back to the condo; he stayed at the house, sleeping on the living room sofa, not in our bedroom. I could tell he didn’t sleep at all.
The next day, James contacted me. We met at a cafe.
«I met with my wife yesterday,» he said, his expression complex. «She denied it at first. But when I showed her the evidence, she had nothing to say.»
Jessica had reacted just like Michael, stunned that her husband knew everything.
«She tried to call your husband, asking what to do.» James continued, «Now they’ll start blaming each other.»
He was right. In a crisis, people try to protect themselves. Michael and Jessica would be no different.
A week passed. I heard from Mr. Johnson.
«Your husband’s attorney contacted me. They want to negotiate a settlement.»
It was the expected response. They knew they would lose in court.
«What are their terms?» I asked.
«A $30,000 settlement and a 50/50 asset split,» Mr. Johnson replied.
It was far too low. I had requested $50,000 in damages and a 60/40 split.
«Reject it. If they don’t meet our terms, we go to trial.»
Mr. Johnson nodded; we would stand firm. A few days later, James reported a similar development.
«My wife also proposed a settlement, but the terms are ridiculous. I rejected it too.»
With such clear evidence, there was no reason to compromise.
«They’ve started turning on each other,» James said.
When I asked what he meant, he explained. «My wife is blaming your husband. She claims he seduced her, that she tried to refuse but he was persistent.»
It was absurd. After living together for months, that was her excuse.
«What about your husband?» James asked.
Michael was saying something similar, that Jessica had been aggressive, that he had tried to turn her down.
«They’re shifting the blame, trying to paint themselves as the victim,» James said.
I couldn’t help but laugh. A bitter, miserable laugh. The people who claimed to be in love and live together were now attacking each other.
Another month passed. No agreement was reached; neither Michael nor Jessica would accept responsibility. We had no choice but to go to trial.
The first court date was set for the 15th of next month. Michael remained at the house but didn’t return to the condo. It seemed his contact with Jessica had dwindled. When crisis struck, their love had cooled.
Whenever we passed each other in the living room, Michael would lower his head. He no longer apologized. There was nothing left to say. Only guilt and regret remained.